Brand Name

Gluconorm {Novo Nordisk}

Generic Name

repaglinide, pronounced re PAG li nide

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Drug Guide

The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

What is Gluconorm?

Gluconorm is an oral diabetes medication for people with type 2 diabetes. Gluconorm can help to control your blood sugar levels. Gluconorm should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes.

Gluconorm may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts about Gluconorm

You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Gluconorm, as it can lower your blood sugar.

Gluconorm is in FDA pregnancy category C. You should not use Gluconorm if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or nursing. We do not yet know the effects Gluconorm has on an unborn baby. Similar diabetes medications have been reported to cause severe hypoglycemia in newborn babies whose mothers had used the medication near the time of their delivery. Because we do not know if Gluconorm passes into breast milk you should not breast-feed while taking Gluconorm.

You should always keep a source of sugar available in case you experience symptoms of low blood sugar. Sources of sugar include hard candy, orange juice, glucose gel, or milk.

Gluconorm is only a part of a complete program of treatment to help your blood sugar condition. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment plan for you which may include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, and dental care, as well as regular testing of your blood sugar. You should follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

You will need to check your blood sugar often, particularly during a time of illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, skip meals or are under great stress. These factors can affect your glucose levels. Tell your doctor if your levels are not where they should be and you may need a dose adjustment of Gluconorm. Your doctor will decide if you need a dosage change, and how much of a change you may need. Do not attempt to change your dose of Gluconorm without consulting your doctor first.

Before You Take Gluconorm

If you are allergic to repaglinide you should not take Gluconorm.

If you are taking gemfibrozil (Lopid) or NPH insulin (such as isophane insulin) you should not take Gluconorm.

If you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis or if you have type 1 diabetes you should not take Gluconorm.

If you have hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells) or liver disease you should tell your doctor before starting treatment with Gluconorm.

Tell your doctor if you are on dialysis or have kidney disease before starting treatment with Gluconorm.

Tell your doctor if you have an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or G6PD.

If you have been taking insulin or chlorpropamide (Diabinese) you should tell your doctor before you take Gluconorm.

Gluconorm may cause you to be more sensitive to the effects of the sun. You should wear SPF and protective clothing when going outdoors while you are taking Gluconorm, and avoid tanning beds.

Gluconorm Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications, as they may make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar:

• albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
• beta-blockers like atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran) and sotalol (Betapace)
• clonidine (Catapres)
• reserpine
• Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications, as they may make you more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if taken with Gluconorm:
• antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin) and ofloxacin (Floxin)
• aspirin or other salicylates (including Pepto-Bismol)
• blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin)
• disopyramide (Norpace)
• exenatide (Byetta)
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• oral diabetes medications like acarbose (Precose), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Gantanol, Septra)

The following medications may be more likely to cause you to have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) if you take Gluconorm with them:

• asthma or allergy medications
• birth control pills or other hormones
• cold medications
• diuretics or water pills
• heart or blood pressure medications (Cartia, Cardizem, Nifedical, Covera, Verelan)
• isoniazid
• niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Niaspan, Simcor and Slo-Niacin)
• phenothiazine (Compazine)
• seizure medicines like Dilantin
• steroids (prednisone)
• thyroid medications like Synthroid
• Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications:
• ACE inhibitors like enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace)
• blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• disopyramide (Norpace)
• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater)

You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Gluconorm

You should take Gluconorm exactly your doctor has told you to. It is important that you do not take Gluconorm in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer or shorter than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label and follow any dose changes carefully if your doctor instructs you to change your dose.

Gluconorm should be taken at breakfast or with the first main meal of the day.

Take Gluconorm with a full glass of water.

While you are taking Gluconorm you will need to have your blood sugar checked regularly. Plan to see your doctor often to be sure that Gluconorm is working for you. You should know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them. These signs are headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, or trouble concentrating.

Gluconorm is part of a complete program of treatment that your doctor may have prescribed for you. This program may include may also include diet, exercise, weight control, foot care, eye care, dental care, and regular monitoring of your blood sugar. You should follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

Gluconorm should be stored at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Gluconorm you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your next dose is less than 12 hours away you should skip the dose you missed.

Gluconorm Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Gluconorm and seek emergency medical help immediately:

• allergic reaction including breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips, throat or tongue
• bleeding or bruising easily with red or purple spots under your skin
• clay colored stools
• dark colored urine
• feeling faint
• memory problems or trouble concentrating
• muscle pain and weakness
• nausea and vomiting with loss of appetite
• numbness or tingly feeling
• pale skin with easy bruising or bleeding, fever and unusual weakness
• restlessness or irritability with confusion or hallucinations
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• unsteady feeling
• upper stomach pain with a low grade fever and jaundice

Less serious Gluconorm side effects may include:

• blurry vision
• full feeling
• heartburn
• joint or muscle pain
• nausea
• skin rash with mild itching

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Gluconorm. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Gluconorm Description and Dosing

Gluconorm is available in tablets in dosages of 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg.

The 0.5 mg tablet is white, unscored, biconvex and embossed with the Novo Nordisk (Apis) bull symbol and coloured to indicate that the strength contains repaglinide 0.5 mg.

The 1 mg tablet is yellow, unscored, biconvex and embossed with the Novo Nordisk (Apis) bull symbol and coloured to indicate that the strength contains repaglinide 1 mg.

The 2 mg tablet is peach, unscored, biconvex and embossed with the Novo Nordisk (Apis) bull symbol and coloured to indicate that the strength contains repaglinide 2 mg.

Your doctor will decide what dose of Gluconorm is right for you. Do not attempt to alter or change your dose without your physician’s consent.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Gluconorm you should seek emergency help immediately.

Ingredients in Gluconorm

The main ingredient in Gluconorm is repaglinide. The 0.5 mg tablet also contains the inactive ingredients amberlite (polacrilin potassium), calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous, glycerol 85%, magnesium stearate, maize starch, meglumine, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), poloxamer, and povidone (polyvidone). The 1mg tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: amberlite (polacrilin potassium), calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous, glycerol 85%, magnesium stearate, maize starch, meglumine, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), povidone (polyvidone), and yellow iron oxide. The 2 mg tablet contains the inactive ingredietns amberlite (polacrilin potassium), calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous, glycerol 85%, magnesium stearate, maize starch, meglumine, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), povidone (polyvidone), and red iron oxide.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.